Category: pop gigs
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Parcels live at O2 Ritz review – reaching for nightclub nirvana
Leaning heavily into the world of nightclub-ready dance music, a constantly evolving Parcels gave plenty of reason to dance the night away for an eager Manchester crowd. As a live act, they’re only getting better and better.
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Dua Lipa live at first direct Arena review – a flamboyant new queen of British pop
No expense was spared on the Leeds leg of Dua Lipa’s victorious world tour, after 2020’s Future Nostalgia changed the face of modern pop. With slick transitions and memorable visuals, this was a performance dense with bona fide pop smashes and jaw-droppingly theatrical highlights.
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AURORA live at O2 Academy review – smiles all round
Norwegian popstar AURORA’s unending love for her audience was uplifting from start to finish on a heart-warming night in Leeds, even if her staging and set list left something to be desired.
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Cory Wong live at Manchester Academy review – utterly tireless
On his first post-pandemic UK performance the prolific funk guitarist aptly delivered a vast amount of music with flair, showmanship and boundless enthusiasm. A strong entourage of improvisers helped compensate for weak songwriting on a night when objective critique became difficult.
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Samm Henshaw live at Gorilla review – pristine at the cost of personality
With a lack of the real horns and backing singers that his densely-layered pop-soul hits demanded, Samm Henshaw was always fighting a losing battle on an underwhelming opening night in Manchester.
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Jungle live at Victoria Warehouse review – cool grooves on a hot night
Jungle topped off their two-night residency at Victoria Warehouse with pizazz and confidence, aided by a dazzling set and the many dance-ready revellers in front of them. All that was missing was some half decent ventilation.
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dodie live at O2 Apollo review – a beautiful pop extravaganza
Two years after last hitting the road, dodie returned with a technically ambitious and intensely emotional opening night in Manchester that surely deserves recognition as the creative pinnacle of her now well-established musical career.
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Larkins live at Brudenell Social Club review – emotional night of summer pop
At the start of their post-lockdown UK tour, Manchester band Larkins were at times overcome with emotion, yet still proved that yes, everything does sound better live.